American Bartenders Associates

Review: Hello, first I would like to thank you for reading this. This has been my worry for the past day, and I need someone to look into this ASAP. Yesterday, my friend [redacted] and I, had found a job advertisement on the AM Newspaper application (iPad) titled "Drink servers". We called the number on there: ###-###-####, and they immediately set up an appointment for us the following day for a scheduled interview. The job advertisement can be easily found in this link: http[redacted] (it should be the JUNE [redacted], 2013 edition, and all the job listings are at page 24 & 25). Thrilled, because we made our first successful job call, we set out the next day to attend the appointment. At the time of our interview, we were both interviewed together. The person in charge of the interview was named [redacted]. He had asked us what we used to work as, and if we had any drug, crime, or health issues and if I was able to work in the U.S. legally, and all those other questions. After all that was said and done, he introduced the job title (Bartender) and proceeded to explain that the company needs $199 for the process of background checks, IDs, other services they do (which they claim to be "LifeTime memberships"). They offer an 8 hour class within two days to obtain a bartender license/certificate and promise of employment when they send us out. Suckered in, we both paid for the classes (since I had no money at the time, I asked my friend to borrow her Chase debit card, and asked the interviewer if that was acceptable) and the total was practically $400. We hardly had a chance to read the contract since he was going over everything pretty fast and so we had signed a contract that claimed in their line it is "nonrefundable due to administrative and processing costs". Several problems had occurred afterwards. When my friend and I arrived back to my house, we researched the company as thoroughly as possible. Since there was really little about the company itself (here is the link to their webpage: [redacted]), we had to rely on all the reviews we had found on every job review page we can. Here is a list of few if needed: http[redacted] I have read all the complaints there, and all of them are fitting to happened to my friend and I. I felt extremely nervous and uneasy that this "company" could've scammed us of $400 so I quickly took my friend to the nearest Chase bank around my neighborhood, told the staff member there who worked there our ENTIRE situation. They are thankfully able to cancel out the pending transaction of both $199. Unfortunately that is not all. This is where the nature of my complaint comes in. By canceling both pending transactions, I believe that we had breached their contract. Regardless of the true nature of the company, it is still a company, and this is still a contract (I would love it you can verify if this is an authentic contract or not). I have NOT attended to any of their "so-called" classes (we were both scheduled on July [redacted] and July [redacted], and are supposedly sent to meet managers at July [redacted]). The only time I could have possibly wasted was their interview time. I don't know what penalties may befall on us and just thinking about it makes us scared of possible outcomes. The worst part was, my friend had a photocopy of her passport AND social security number. They had not returned it (they may have photocopied my passpord ID number too) and since we took a hunch that this business was beyond "just shady", we had canceled out her debit card, (will) register for a new passport, and placed a 90-day fraud alert on her SSN (I will probably get a new passport just in case, if necessary). So this issue may be temporarily resolved but I am still worried we haven't covered everything here. P.S. In an article we researched on (http[redacted]), there are facts that contradict what this "job training" offers. For example: 8 hours of "free bartender training" cannot replace the value of an actual bartender school that offers 40 hours +. This was already more than enough to convince us that this job training is suspicious.Desired Settlement: There are a great number of things I would love to be resolved, but I'll try to keep this as short as possible. 1. We do NOT want to be a part of the "LifeTime Membership". We already stopped the transaction, so no worries about a refund or anything. 2. We want that contract to be completely VOIDED out. WE HAVE NOT USED THEIR SERVICES AT ALL, WHETHER IT'D BE CLASSES OR MAKING PHOTO IDS. 3. This may be a bit much of a stretch to do, but we want to know if my friend's (and probably mine too) information will not be misused. We took precautions though, but ANY reassurance is GREATLY and forever appreciated. 4. There are some companies that Revdex.com have reviewed/followed your standards. If possible, could you take your time to look over if this is a safe area to work in? I'm almost 100% sure that this place reeks of scam. Sadly the only viable "proof" I have would be the receipts, contract, and the reviews shown above, but when I had left the interview site, I saw numerous people waiting outside for their turn, and it really disturbs me that they will be victims of scams, false advertisement, etc... If you need clear pictures and/or scans of the receipts or contracts we signed, please notify us. I could be reached by phone calls too, if preferred. Again, thank you and everyone for taking a note on this problem and going through all the trouble of even reading this long and complicated problem. This is not just my problem, nor just my friend's problem but also a problem for past victims, and future hopeful applicants!!

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding American Bartenders Associates has been resolved.

They have not bothered me nor my friend, and vise-versa.

Thank you very much.

(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

Sincerely,

Review: I paid $200.00 for a bartenders certificate back in 2009. I had never used the license. Today I gave them a call to arrange a meeting to discuss how they could help me being that I was supposedly a "lifetime member". No one answered the phone so I googled them and saw that they were closed and that they were intact a scam..Desired Settlement: Refund- As soon as possible.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by American Bartenders Associates regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]